Introduction
Pets, if taken care of properly, can be a wonderful source of enjoyment. However, if there is no one to take care of them, it can go down the drain, literally. I remember when I was a kid being asked by my grandfather (he was 75 then) to take care of his fish tank. So I had the responsibility to feed them and clean the tank every week (I was 7 years old at that time). And after work and sometimes on weekends I had to swim in chaos in my home while taking care of everything.
While family members and friends are often the first choice for companionship, a furry friend can be a great asset to seniors. Pets provide many of the same benefits as relationships with others, including love, comfort and regular interaction. Pets offer unconditional love and loyalty without asking anything in return. They can also lessen feelings of loneliness or depression that may have resulted from being away from children who have moved away or a spouse who has passed away.
In recent years, studies have shown that pets are good senior citizens as they help ward off loneliness and depression in the elderly population. Studies found that having an animal companion improves your mood and reduces stress levels! Pets provide opportunities to get out into nature more frequently than would be possible if you were alone; plus, taking care of another living creature can give us meaning when we feel like we don’t have much purpose left.”
The impact of pet ownership increases as one ages, providing essential benefits to senior citizens in particular. Below you’ll find a shortlist of benefits that come with owning a pet. Hopefully, these thoughts will help encourage pet ownership later in life.
Lowering Blood Pressure
Believe it or not – animals can help reduce one’s blood pressure. Several studies have looked into the correlation between healthier blood pressure and pet ownership, and the results are promising. It’s believed that pets tend to have a calming effect on humans, which directly affects our blood pressure.
Decreasing Loneliness
Pets are amazing creatures, providing unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship. Naturally, their constant affection helps reduce the loneliness that all people experience in life, especially as we grow older.
Exercise
It may be easy to forget that when we’re stepping up and helping our pets stay healthy and active – we’re frequently doing the same for ourselves. Pets help encourage people to be up and about more. Dogs need walking, cats need playtime, and all critters need to be fed on some sort of schedule.
Helping with Stress
According to News in Health, interacting with animals (especially pets) lowers cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone, so this is an indirect way of saying that pets reduce stress.
Sense of Purpose
Pets provide a sense of purpose in life. Every day their owners know that they are there, that they need and love them. Sometimes this simple fact is enough to encourage a person to get up in the morning. Pets make people feel loved, wanted and can have a positive impact on mental health. They stave off those feelings of helplessness and worthlessness, as only an animal could manage.
Helping Hands (Or Paws)
Remember, pets can do more than console us on an emotional and mental level. They can also provide physical benefits, such as being helpers. Dogs can easily be trained to retrieve items, provide medical alerts, and obtain assistance if needed.
We’ve all seen an amazing and memorable story in the news, where an untrained pet went out and got aid for its injured owner. This story is so familiar because it’s true – animals will go above and beyond to take care of their owners.
Companionship
Pets provide companionship for senior citizens. Pets can provide companionship and help a senior citizen feel less lonely and isolated. By having a pet in the house, they will have something to talk to, play with and care for. This helps them feel like they have someone to talk to since there is no one else around that would understand their language or be able to communicate with them properly.
Reduce stress
Pets can help reduce stress.
- Dogs are an especially good choice for seniors because they tend to be less energetic and don’t require as much attention as a cat.
- Cats are also great for reducing stress, since they’re very independent and will keep themselves entertained if you’re not around.
Better health
Pets can help you stay active and healthy. It’s known that getting more exercise is beneficial for your health, but maybe it’s been a while since you’ve done any physical activity. Pets can help motivate senior citizens to get out of the house and take walks around the neighborhood or even just in their own backyard. The extra time outdoors also provides natural sunlight, which improves mood and health in general.
Pets can also provide companionship to those who live alone or have limited social interaction with others on a regular basis (elderly people often experience this). A pet will keep them company when they’re home alone, keeping them from feeling isolated and depressed by their situation.
Hapiness
Pets provide a sense of belonging.
A pet can make you feel like you belong to something bigger than yourself, which is important for a lot of seniors who may be living alone. Pets also give you a reason to get up and move around, which helps with overall health. For seniors who are experiencing depression or dementia, pets can provide a much-needed connection with the outside world that helps them re-engage with society (and it’s way more fun than watching TV).
Pets can be a good choice for the elderly.
Pets can be a good choice for the elderly.
Many seniors find that having a pet provides them with a sense of companionship and security. Pets may also help reduce stress, loneliness and depression; improve their health; and lower blood pressure.
Conclusion
Pet ownership is good for seniors because it provides companionship and a sense of purpose, reduces stress and helps to keep them healthy. Plus, it makes them happier. In addition, there are many health benefits to spending time with animals. This means that it’s never too late to consider getting a pet!